Core i7-13700H vs Core Ultra 7 165H

PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-13700H

2023

Why buy it

✅+1.1% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (96EU), while Core Ultra 7 165H needs a discrete GPU.

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $502 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 165H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core Ultra 7 165H

2023

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (25,849 vs 26,140).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Core i7-13700H

2023

Core Ultra 7 165H

2023

Why buy it

✅+1.1% higher PassMark.
✅100+% more PCIe lanes (28 vs 0) for storage and expansion-heavy builds.
✅Integrated graphics onboard with Iris Xe Graphics (96EU), while Core Ultra 7 165H needs a discrete GPU.

Why buy it

Trade-offs

❌Launch MSRP is still $502 MSRP, while Core Ultra 7 165H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark (25,849 vs 26,140).
❌No integrated graphics, while Core i7-13700H can still boot and troubleshoot without a discrete GPU.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-13700H better than Core Ultra 7 165H?

Yes. Core i7-13700H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data and 1.1% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

For gaming, the two CPUs are effectively a wash in the available data.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-13700H is the better fit. You are getting 1.1% better PassMark, backed by 14 cores and 20 threads.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-13700H is the smarter buy today. Core i7-13700H is at an unclear MSRP at $502 MSRP versus unclear MSRP, and it gives you a 0.4% average FPS lead across 50 shared CPU game tests in our data. It is also 100.0% better value on MSRP (52.1 vs 0.0 PassMark/$), so the better CPU is not just faster, it is also the cleaner value play on paper.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Core Ultra 7 165H is the safer long-term CPU choice because it gives you more overall headroom and a better platform outlook.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-13700H Benchmark Check

Core Ultra 7 165H Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-13700H	Core Ultra 7 165H
1080p
low	301 FPS	308 FPS
medium	277 FPS	278 FPS
high	233 FPS	232 FPS
ultra	198 FPS	198 FPS
1440p
low	243 FPS	251 FPS
medium	199 FPS	201 FPS
high	162 FPS	163 FPS
ultra	141 FPS	143 FPS
4K
low	169 FPS	173 FPS
medium	138 FPS	139 FPS
high	107 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	93 FPS

Open Core i7-13700H Open Core Ultra 7 165H

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-13700H	Core Ultra 7 165H
1080p
low	654 FPS	646 FPS
medium	569 FPS	585 FPS
high	468 FPS	478 FPS
ultra	419 FPS	430 FPS
1440p
low	617 FPS	632 FPS
medium	520 FPS	530 FPS
high	430 FPS	437 FPS
ultra	363 FPS	371 FPS
4K
low	366 FPS	375 FPS
medium	314 FPS	320 FPS
high	291 FPS	295 FPS
ultra	253 FPS	258 FPS

Open Core i7-13700H Open Core Ultra 7 165H

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-13700H	Core Ultra 7 165H
1080p
low	654 FPS	646 FPS
medium	654 FPS	646 FPS
high	654 FPS	646 FPS
ultra	613 FPS	646 FPS
1440p
low	654 FPS	646 FPS
medium	654 FPS	646 FPS
high	588 FPS	631 FPS
ultra	507 FPS	543 FPS
4K
low	595 FPS	641 FPS
medium	494 FPS	531 FPS
high	442 FPS	475 FPS
ultra	374 FPS	402 FPS

Open Core i7-13700H Open Core Ultra 7 165H

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-13700H	Core Ultra 7 165H
1080p
low	654 FPS	646 FPS
medium	654 FPS	646 FPS
high	654 FPS	646 FPS
ultra	654 FPS	646 FPS
1440p
low	654 FPS	646 FPS
medium	654 FPS	646 FPS
high	654 FPS	646 FPS
ultra	597 FPS	579 FPS
4K
low	628 FPS	606 FPS
medium	558 FPS	538 FPS
high	502 FPS	486 FPS
ultra	432 FPS	423 FPS

Open Core i7-13700H Open Core Ultra 7 165H

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-13700H and Core Ultra 7 165H

Core i7-13700H

The Core i7-13700H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 4 January 2023 (2 years ago). It is based on the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture. It features 14 cores and 20 threads. Base frequency is 2.4 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on Intel 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA1744. Thermal design power (TDP): 45 Watt. Memory support: DDR4, DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 26,140 points. Launch price was $502.

Core Ultra 7 165H

The Core Ultra 7 165H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 14 December 2023 (1 year ago). It is based on the Meteor Lake-H (2023) architecture. It features 16 cores and 22 threads. Base frequency is 3.8 GHz, with boost up to 5 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 2 MB (per core). Built on 7 nm process technology. Socket: FCBGA2049. Thermal design power (TDP): + 24 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 25,849 points. Launch price was $460.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-13700H packs 14 cores / 20 threads, while the Core Ultra 7 165H offers 16 cores / 22 threads — the Core Ultra 7 165H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 5 GHz on the Core i7-13700H versus 5 GHz on the Core Ultra 7 165H — identical boost frequencies (base: 2.4 GHz vs 3.8 GHz). The Core i7-13700H uses the Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024) architecture (Intel 7 nm), while the Core Ultra 7 165H uses Meteor Lake-H (2023) (7 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-13700H scores 26,140 against the Core Ultra 7 165H's 25,849 — a 1.1% lead for the Core i7-13700H. Both processors carry 24 MB (total) of L3 cache.

Feature	Core i7-13700H	Core Ultra 7 165H
Cores / Threads	14 / 20	16 / 22+14%
Boost Clock	5 GHz	5 GHz
Base Clock	2.4 GHz	3.8 GHz+58%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)	24 MB (total)
L2 Cache	2 MB (per core)	2 MB (per core)
Process	Intel 7 nm	7 nm
Architecture	Raptor Lake-H (2023−2024)	Meteor Lake-H (2023)
PassMark	26,140+1%	25,849
Cinebench R23 Multi	20,101	—
Geekbench 6 Single	2,279	—
Geekbench 6 Multi	13,208	—

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-13700H uses the FCBGA1744 socket (PCIe 5.0), while the Core Ultra 7 165H uses FCBGA2049 (PCIe 5.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard.

Feature	Core i7-13700H	Core Ultra 7 165H
Socket	FCBGA1744	FCBGA2049
PCIe Generation	PCIe 5.0	PCIe 5.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR5-5200	—
Max RAM Capacity	96 GB	—
RAM Channels	2	—
ECC Support	No	—
PCIe Lanes	28	—

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Advanced Features

Virtualization: VT-x, VT-d (Core i7-13700H) / not specified (Core Ultra 7 165H). The Core i7-13700H includes integrated graphics (Iris Xe Graphics (96EU)), while the Core Ultra 7 165H requires a dedicated GPU.